EGG DRIVE

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 35, 11 February 1943, Page 4

EGG DRIVE

CAMPAIGN PLANS GOVERNMENT ACTION

Proposals formulated recently in Wellington for increasing egg production in New Zealand were outlined by Mr. F. C. Bobby, superintendent of poultry husbandry, in :an address to a well-attended meeting of Henderson poultry producers last evening. Mr. S. B. Haigh, president of the Henderson Poultry Association, presided. Chief points in the campaign to boost the egg output throughout the Dominion are:— 1. A guaranteed price to producers, already announced. 2. Establishment of four district councils with representatives on N.Z. Poultry Board, and with which poultry clubs and associations will be affiliated. 3. Increase in breeding stock, and improved breeding methods. 4. State Advances loans at 4 per cent to finance expansion.

5. Assistance towards securing adequate building .materials, feed, and farm labour.

"All New Zealand is short of eggs in the light of to-day's requirements," said Mr. Bobby. "Our American friends speak in terms of millions of dozens needed. It is useless to talk of what might have been done. We have got to get down to it now." The speaker said a committee had been recently convened comprising representatives of the American forces, the Department of Agriculture, and the Poultry Board, to prepare a plan. It was felt that it was useless appealing to farmers for cooperation unless they knew their return in advance. Therefore, a guaranteed price had fixed on the basis of the average prices paid in 1941, including 2d a dozen paid in the four flush months. That price was not unattractive to-day, and in view of the stabilisation policy there was no possibility of an increase.

District Council Scheme Elaborating on the organisation of the industry, Mr. Bobby said the committee had recommended the establishment of four district councils which would be financed from the national egg pool. Each council would budget a year ahead and the. Poultry Board would reimburse it from a fund controlled by the Internal Marketing Division. He pointed out that as there were only five poultry instructors in the country they would welcome the utmost help and co-operation from farmers.

What steps were being urged to meet the new egg target? It was considered the first job was to increase breeding stock, which shouid be done gradually without endangering the quality of stock generally. Poultry-keepers were asked to retain every possible fit bird for the next breeding season. Where possible, hatching should be two weeks earlier this year than last. The breeding of purebred stock from pullets was not advised, but where breeding from pullets could be done cross-breeding was urged. All the best cock birds should be held for autumn hatching. Small producers had their place in the production drive and should be assisted by the provision of perching pullets. Mr. Bobby went on to describe the methods necessary to obtain building materials, and added that State Advances loans would be made available at 4 per cent interest on approved security, arid provided the business was economically sound. These loans would extend for the duration and one year afterwards, when the buildings and equipment would be valued, with due regard to the state of the industry and prospects then. If the valuation were lower then than it was to-day, the difference in the loan money would be eliminated.

Tackling Labour Problem Regarding labour, . Mr. Bobby assured the meeting that in the matter of appeals against military service the Auckland district had received full consideration. The Department was doing all possible to keep men on their farms, and hoped shortly to augment the labour supply with Grade 2 and 3 men. The policy had not been definitely finalised yet. So far as feed was concerned, the situation was more satisfactory than it had been for 18 months. He agreed there were delays in getting requirements, and these were being investigated. To a questioner, he expressed the view that there was little likelihood of feed prices rising. Later Mr. Bobby answered many technical questions concerning the industry, and was accorded a hearty vote of thanks. Mr. Haigh said most producers ever since the war started had made efforts to increatee production, and would continue doing so, but a good deal depended on the labour problem. He considered smaller parttime producers could fit best into the higher production plans, and many could be induced to become fulltime producers.